Carl Eric Almgren
Encyclopedia
Carl Eric Åke Almgren was a general and the Swedish army
chief from 1969 to 1976.
before beginning his career as an army officer. Almgren was appointed in April 1934 to officership at Jönköping
, Kalmar regiment. In 1936 he became a lieutenant and went through the infantry officer school. From the winter of 1938 to 1939, he studied Russian
on a scholarship in Tallinn
.
Early career and start of World War II
In October 1939, Almgren was appointed assistant military attaché in Estonia
, Latvia
, and Lithuania
. With placement in Tallinn, he became interested in the tense global political activities. The Soviet Union
invasion in 1940 ended his ability to act as attaché, so he was told to observe the Soviet tanks when they crossed the Estonia
n border.
. In 1966 he was appointed Lieutenant General, and in 1967 he was appointed military commander of the Eastern Military Region, and also Commander in Stockholm. Army Chief from 1969 to 1976. At his retirement as army chief, he was appointed General.
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army is one of the oldest standing armies in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.- Organization :...
chief from 1969 to 1976.
Education
He graduated from the high school in LinköpingLinköping
Linköping is a city in southern middle Sweden, with 104 232 inhabitants in 2010. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality with 146 736 inhabitants and the capital of Östergötland County...
before beginning his career as an army officer. Almgren was appointed in April 1934 to officership at Jönköping
Jönköping
-Notable people:*Lillian Asplund, RMS Titanic survivor*John Bauer, illustrator, painter*Amy Diamond, singer*Agnetha Fältskog, ABBA*Carl Henrik Fredriksson, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Eurozine*Anders Gustafsson, kayaker, Olympian...
, Kalmar regiment. In 1936 he became a lieutenant and went through the infantry officer school. From the winter of 1938 to 1939, he studied Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
on a scholarship in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
.
Early career and start of World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
In October 1939, Almgren was appointed assistant military attaché in EstoniaEstonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, and Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. With placement in Tallinn, he became interested in the tense global political activities. The Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
invasion in 1940 ended his ability to act as attaché, so he was told to observe the Soviet tanks when they crossed the Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n border.
Career during and after the war
In 1949 he was appointed captain in Västernorrland Regiment, in 1951 was appointed to major, and finally appointed to General Staff Corps. He returned to the brigade service as training officer at Hälsinge regiment in 1957 and was appointed to colonel and head of Jämtlands Regiment in 1960. In 1961, he was appointed to the post as Defence Chief of Staff and was appointed Major GeneralMajor General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. In 1966 he was appointed Lieutenant General, and in 1967 he was appointed military commander of the Eastern Military Region, and also Commander in Stockholm. Army Chief from 1969 to 1976. At his retirement as army chief, he was appointed General.